Skip to content

Ad Disclosure

Blaine Bradford, nation’s top safety for 2026, commits to Ohio State

Paul Harvey

By Paul Harvey

Published:

Blaine Bradford is one of the top players in the entire country for the 2026 recruiting class. He was a major local target for LSU and Brian Kelly, but he is opting for the Big Ten instead.

On Monday, Bradford officially committed to Ohio State to play for Ryan Day, a massive southeastern recruiting win for the Buckeyes. LSU, Oregon and Texas were other top programs being considered by Bradford.

RELATED: Don’t miss out on any top gaming offers in Ohio. Be sure to use the Ohio betting apps to get started.

Bradford is listed at 6-foot-1 and 207 pounds out of Baton Rouge’s Catholic High School. His older brother, Jacob, signed with LSU in the 2025 recruiting class as a 4-star defensive back. Blaine is a multi-sport athlete who also plays baseball and runs track in high school.

According to the 247 Sports Composite, the younger Bradford is a 5-star recruit and the nation’s top safety for the 2026 recruiting cycle. He’s also the No. 2 player from Louisiana and a top 25 (No. 23 overall) player in the entire country.

ESPN described Bradford’s relationship with Ohio State safeties coach Matt Guerrieri as a strong one. However, the final decision of Bradford was still a surprise with many expecting LSU to be the favorite to land his commitment.

Paul Harvey

Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.